Daily AncestorCurate
A curate is a clergyman, usually newly ordained, who assists the rector or parish priest; older English usage could mean any priest with the care of souls.
In the Book of Common Prayer, curate meant the priest who had the cure, or care, of souls in a parish. In everyday American Episcopal usage it came to mean an assistant to the rector.
A register entry signed by a curate rather than the rector is still from the same parish. Clergy directories can trace a curate who later led his own church.
As seen in a recordEpiscopal parish register, 1800s
Bapt. by the Rev. Mr. Ives, curate
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Daily Ancestor. "Curate." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/church/curate. Last checked 2026-10-03.